As i have a Point of View Mobii instead of a Advent Vega, but its the same tablets, and i am not sure what applicationdownload-apps there are on the Vega, but there are some places to download apps without Android Market, such as getjar.com and applib.com, also you can download the .apk files to your PC then copy them to the tablets SDCard and install them using iFileManager (that comes with the Vega).

MoDaCo's firmware is good, and it is fairly easy to install if you have some knowledge in installing drivers and such on your computer.

Here is a step by step guide on how to do it: Step by step update guide - Android @ MoDaCo
Read it carefully before you start tho the actual flashing aint a problem, getting drivers to work on Windows7 (and i guess Vista) is abit tricky, it needs to be installed as Android Developer Bridge and nothing else, when you connect the tablet in USB Debugging-mode(in the second part of the guide).

If it fails to install as Android Developer Bridge when following the guide you can try to use an windowsapplication called USBDeview (google, first hit), to see what devices are connected to your PC and just unistall the drivers for Nvidia Tegra 2 tablet and unplug/replug the device then windows will hopefully install it correctly, some ppl needs to do this a couple of times to get it working, no idea why.

As for the guide, it tells you to update to the latest firmware in the first part, i suggest using 1.08 of advent vega firmware. Because there are some ppl that say that they have had problems with some things on the tablet after applying the custom rom on 1.09.

If you only get the install of 1.08 working and then no luck on the drivers you can always just download the 1.09 update again and you are back with a stock Vega again.

Remember that all your personal data on the tablet will be removed when flashing!!

I've followed the step by step guide to install the 1.09 download - the tablet restarted just like it says it will, but the screen is just a picture of the android robot stood infront of what looks like a white cig packet with a red arrow coming out of it - it's been like this for about 20 mins so far... is it supposed to do this? if so, how long should it stay like that for? Thanks.

Also, sorry to be a pain, but is there a way of downloading like some sort of bundle of apps? Mainly just want Google Maps with streetview, a PDF reader and Spotify really.

yeah i get that also when it updates sometimes, reboot the device and see if it starts normaly, if it doesnt, dont be alarmed.

Download the firmware from advent website here http://www.myadventvega.co.uk/softwareImage_v1.09_Vega_Final.exe turn of the tablet (holding down powerbutton for 6-10 seconds) then hold down backbutton, press powerbutton for two seconds, release powerbutton (PC should not make a connected USB Device sound) and then release backbutton.

Mine just got stuck - I held down the power button and turned it off, then turned it back on again - I tried installing the software from advent's site again - and again it just showed the pic of the android bot/empty cig packet with a red arrow coming out of it - any reason it keeps getting stuck?

Is there a way I can get the Android Apps Market? I've got a PDF reader from the Adobe website, but it's rubbish - really glitchy and doesn't zoom in and out very well and shows some pages at the wrong sizes. Can you, or anyone else recommend a decent free PDF reader, please?

The way the tablet is marketed to people you'd expect to have all the basics like a PDF reader pre-installed on the tablet, surely? For those that have never used Android or had a tablet before, they're not making tablets very accessible...

Cheers - still haven't been able to update it and the Adobe PDF reader keeps crashing - is this due to the tablet, or is it just the adobe PDF reader isn't very good for tablets? ...if so, can anyone recommend a better PDF reader?